Fish-trap.



No. 775,389. PATENTBD NOV. 22, 1904.

A. L. BROOKS.

FISH TRAP.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1. 1904.

N0 MODEL.

UNTTEn STATES Patented November 22, 1904-.

ALMOND L. BROOKS, OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA.

FISH-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 775,389, dated November22, 1904.

Application filed April 1, 1904- Serial No. 201,143- (No modelf To allwhmn it Tit/[,7] concern:

Be it known that I, ALMOND L. Baooxs, a citizen of the United States ofAmerlca, residing at Columbus, in the State of Indiana,(post ofiiceaddress the same,) have invented certain new and useful Improvements 1nFish-Traps,

of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a light, durable, and efiicienttrap and to also provide proper means for holding the food used as baitin the proper place at all times; and my invention consists in thecombination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed.

Traps are usually made so that the bait is placed in the body part ofthe trap and the fish can feed thereon after being caught. The food andfish also become mixed together when the former are removed and a greatdeal of the food is thus lost.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal section; Fig. 2, a front endelevation; Fig. 3, a perspective detail of the feed-box; Fig. 4, amodified form of feed-box, and Fig. 5a side elevation of the same.

The numeral 1 represents the main body part, which can be made of eithersheet metal, netting, or perforated metal, as desired, and can be madein any form. I, however, prefer a rectangular form on account of theease of handling and making, and when put in position it is more stablethan a round trap.

One end of body part 1 is headed with a perforated or netting end 2,held in position by means of a U-shaped clamp edge 3, which is firmlysoldered in position. The opposite end of body part 1 is provided with aclamp edge 17, which makesa firm and secure binding for the wire. Inthis end I mount a rectangular frame 5,preferably removable, which isprovided with a flange 8, taking outside of fiange or binding 17, and isheld in position when made removable by means of a hook 9, hinged to aloop 10, secured to body part 1. Secured to frame 5 and extending intobody part 1 is a pyramid or cone shaped inlet 6, preferably constructedof wire-netting and provided at its apex with an opening 7. A food-box11 is directly below the inlet 6 and above the bottom of body part 1,the bottom, sides, and a portion of the top being sheet metal, while theupper open part is partially covered by the netting of inlet 6. The rearor back wall of feed-box 11 is perforated, as shown at 12, and is alsoprovided with an opening 1 1, through which food can be inserted. Thisopening is normally closed by means of a removable cap 13. In themodified form shown in Figs. & and 5 the feed-box is cylindrical in formand surrounds a portion of inlet 6 and is provided with a rearperforated plate 19, thus forming a space 18 for the food.

I provide a handle 16 for convenience in handling and a sinking-weightsto insure the trap staying in the proper place when once placed. In thepreferred construction it will be seen that the inlet and feed-box areintegral and can be removed from the trap.

In operation the end carrying the inlet and feed-box is removed and food(usually crackers) is placed in feed-box 11 through opening M. Thisopening is then closed and the entire inlet replaced in the trap, asshown, and is securely held by hook 9. The trap is then placed in astream with the inlet downstream. The current of water passes throughthe trap through perforated end 12 and carries the aroma and smallparticles of food through netting 6, thus forming a long traildownstream, up which minnows follow until they congregate in inlet 6.Large numbers pass through opening 7 in search of a better way to attackthe food. Then to remove the minnows the trap is raised and the entireinlet is removed, thus taking the food with it, and the minnows can bepoured into a bucket and the inlet replaced.

I have found by actual experience that the minnows will follow afood-trail thus formed for a long way, and large numbers are easilycaptured.

1 do not wish to limit myself to the exact details and constructionshown; but

I claim as my invention- 1. A fish-trap consisting of a body part; a

, screened or perforated end; a cone or pyramid is secured to inlet 6and in one form shown I shaped inlet opposite the screened end; and afeed-boxintegral with said inlet, provided with a perforated rear walland a screened open side adjacent the inlet substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

2. A fish-trap consisting of a body part; a screened or perforated rearend; a removable screened cone or pyramid shaped inlet opposite thescreened end; and a feed-box integral with said inlet, provided with aperforated rear wall and an open side partially covered with the screenforming the inlet, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a fish-trap the combination of a body part; ascreened orperforated rear end; a removable screened cone-shaped inlet opposite therear end, and a cylindrical feed-box encircling a portion of the inlet,said feed-box havinga perforated rear wall, and an open front sidecovered by the screen forming the inlet substantially as and for thepurpose set forth.

4. In a fish-trap the combination of a body part; a screened orperforated rear end; a removable inlet preferably pyramid-shaped andconstructed of a screen material said inlet normally held in position bysuitable locking means, a feed-box integral With said inlet, providedwith a perforated rear wall, and an open front normally covered by thescreen forming the inlet; an opening in the feed-box through which foodis inserted, and a cover normally covering said opening substantially asand for the purpose set forth.

ALMOND L. BROOKS. Witnesses:

E. K. H001), H. H. H001).

